Portable fence



(No Model.)

L. W. FISHER.

PORTABLE FENCE.

" Patented Jan. 19,1886.

N. PETiHs Flmto-Lillmgmpher. Washington D. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS VVAYLAND FISHER, OF BOOKVILLE, INDIANA.

PORTABLE FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 334,577, dated January 19, 1886.

Application filed June 30, 1885. Serial N0.1 70,.277. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS W. FISHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rockville, in the county of Parke and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Portable Fences, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to an improvement in portable fences; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices that will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a section of a fence embodying my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are detail views.

A represents the supports for the fence, which are placed about ten or twelve feet apart, and are each composed of posts B, pivoted centrally to the ends of a tie or cross bar, 0, the posts being pivoted thereto by bolts D, as shown in Fig. 2. V

In order to construct the fence, the posts are crossed in the position shown in Fig. 3, and the lower fence-rails, E, are secured in position by having their ends inserted between the posts and bearing upon the cross-bars. The upper fencerails, F, are placed in the crot-ches formed by the crosses of the posts and bear upon the posts, and cause them to clamp the lower fence-rails tightly. V

In order to prevent the fence from being turned over by the wind, wire braces G are secured to the cross-bar of about every third panel and secured to stakes H, that are driven in the ground.

I do not design, ordinarily, to fasten the top rails to the posts, as their gravity issufficient to support the fence with sufficient rigidity for all ordinary purposes; but the top rails may be secured to the posts in any suitable manner, if preferred.

Boards or rails may be fastened to the posts near their lower ends. or barbed wires may be strung along them. The fence may be built in a straight line, as shown in Fig. l; or, if preformed, it may be built in a zigzag line similar to a common worm-fence.

By having the cross-bars secured to the centers of the posts the latter may be reversed at any time should their lower ends, which are in contact with the earth, become decayed, and

this enables the posts to be used for a much longer period of time.

A fence thus constructed is cheap and simple,and can be quickly set up and taken down, thus enabling the farmer to fence in a pasture or a hay or grain stack in a very short time.

Bymaking the posts longer and the crossbars higher the invention is adapted for use as a grape-trellis.

I am aware that it is old to connect the crossed posts of a fence by a pivoted crossbar, the latter serving as a support for one rail of the fence, while the crotch formed by the top ends of the post supports another rail. I am also aware that it is not broadly new to brace a fence-post by a length of rope or wire having its central portion wrapped around the post and its ends secured by stakes to the ground; hence I lay no broad claim to either of these constructions, but base my claim on the particular combination as expressed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The inclined posts B, in combination with the cross-bar O, pivoted at each end by bolts to the center of the posts, whereby said posts may be turned or swung inward toward each other, so as to cross at either end, and thus form a reversible post, the rails E,placed upon the cross-bar O in the crotches formed by the crossed posts, and the wires G, wrapped aroundgthe rails and the cross-bar, and extending outward on each side of the posts and secured to the ground, as set forth.

2. The crossed posts B, in combination with a crossbar, 0, connecting said posts and pivoted at each end thereto, the rails E, placed upon the cross-bar in the crotch formed by the crossed posts, the wire G,wrapped at its center around the rails and having its end secured to the ground on each side of the posts, and the top rails, F, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEWIS WAYLAND FISHER.

Witnesses:

THOMAS O. PEAOOOK, THEODORE 0. MARSHALL, 

